Notes of Faith February 18, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
February 18, 2001
“THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT”
Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 is part of a larger context where the armor of God is the subject. This is armor for the spiritual man. Each piece of armor relates in some way to the Scriptures. By and large the armor is defensive in nature. However, the Sword of the Spirit is an offensive piece of armor. One important item to notice - it is the Spirit’s sword, not ours.
How does it work? The sword is used strategically and wisely - a specific promise for a corresponding specific problem. If your problem is worry, you wouldn’t apply John 3:16. You would apply passages like Philippians 4:6,7 “Be anxious for nothing.” See how it fits? You can use this principle for virtually every problem you face.
Let me encourage you to learn to use the Sword of the Spirit in this fashion. It can be very beneficial to you spiritually. If your problem is anger, “Be angry and sin not” Paul told the Ephesian Christians which is another wise use of the Sword of the Spirit.
Let me ask you to analyze carefully the problems that are giving you trouble. List them on a sheet of paper; then get busy and find corresponding verses or passages that apply to your problems. Make sure there is a connection. I personally have a problem being patient with my circumstances and sometimes people. The Spirit’s sword for me is found in Romans 5:3, “knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance and perseverance proven character and proven character hope.” So you see patience is not an end to itself. It, too, is productive. Happy hunting and may all your battles be spiritual ones. God bless.
Love to you all,
Pastor Charles Covington
Eph 6:10-17
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Our lives are primarily lived in a spiritual realm that we do not see. The physical realm in which we live is temporal but the spiritual realm is eternal. God has given us His Word providing everything that we need for both the physical and spiritual. May we seek God with all our heart and pursue that which is righteous and good, glorifying to God. We can only do this because of the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin and through the gift of faith given us to believe in Him and the power of the Holy Spirit, another gift from God, that makes it possible to overcome the physical world when taking up the full armor of God.
It is God’s armor that protects and fights for us. We just need to put it on and use it! May God be glorified by His army of saints in this life and into eternity!
Pastor Dale